Research

Anti-infectives & Drug Discovery

Identification of new genetic targets for antimicrobial drugs, development and early-phase testing of new anti-infectives for hard-to-treat organisms such as Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) and Acinetobacter baumanii, as well as TB and fungal pathogens that afflict immunocompromised persons.

Autoimmune Disease

A critical component of the immune system is tight regulation; ensuring appropriate termination of immune responses following pathogen clearance and avoiding the inappropriate activation of immune responses to self tissues resulting in autoimmunity.

Biodefense

Faculty research focuses on a range of Category A, B and C Priority Pathogens. Studies include analysis of the pathogenesis of important bacterial and viral biodefense agents, comparative genomic studies on Vibrio species, genetic analysis of Francisella tularensis, analysis of immune responses to such viruses as influenza virus, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and human arenaviruses such as Lassa and Junin, and the development and testing of new vaccines for pathogens that include human arenaviruses and influenza.

Cancer

Oncogenically transformed cells arise through a multistep process, and are normally subject to immune surveillance and elimination by the immune system. Cluster research focuses understanding of the immune mechanisms involved in tumor recognition and rejection, as well as fundamental mechanisms of cellular transformation and the role of microbial agents in oncogenic disease of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Studies include translational research aimed at improved cancer therapeutics and/or cancer vaccines, as well as studies into the basic mechanisms of cell transformation.

Cell Biology

Microbes and viruses interact with host cells to induce alterations in cellular phenotype and function, thereby subverting host cell metabolism to meet their own needs. In addition, many microbes and viruses exert effects on the host immune response, so as to evade host immune control. Knowledge of the interplay between infectious pathogens and their host cells is therefore important, in order to identify potential new targets for drug therapy and as a basis for understanding microbial pathogenesis. Research focuses on various aspects of mammalian and amphibian cell biology including, cell to cell interactions, cell cycle control, intracellular signaling, differentiation and subcellular organelles.

ESKAPE Pathogens, Hard-To-Treat Infections & Drug Resistant Organisms

The ESKAPE pathogens comprise the 6 bacterial pathogens considered to be of greatest healthcare concern by the Infectious Diseases Society of America, because of their high burden of disease and frequent ability to evade currently used antibiotics. Chief among these is Staphylococcus aureus, which is the focus of several faculty laboratories, interested in establishing bacterial determinants of virulence as well as new targets for antimicrobial therapy. Other ESKAPE pathogens under investigation include Acinetobacter baumanii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and enterobacterial species. Additional research focuses on Mycobacterium tuberculosis, as well as fungal species that a major cause of disease among medically immune suppressed persons, and polymicrobial infection.

Active Research Laboratories

Dunman LabUsing S. aureus and A. baumannii as Model Organisms for Antibacterial Development and to Study Bacterial Pathogenesis

Gill LabMicrobial Pathogens and the Impact of Human Microbial Flora on Human Health and Disease

Haidaris Lab Infections in the immunocompromised host, mechanisms of pathogenesis, host-microbe interactions and approaches to therapy

Genetics, Genomics & Metagenomics

Microbes and viruses interact with their immediate environment and in doing so alter the expression of their own genes or those of the host. Faculty study the regulation of gene expression at all levels, including global changes in bacterial gene expression in biofilms and dental caries, cytokine and gene expression changes associated with immune cell differentiation, and the comparative genomics of Vibrio cholerae species. These studies are enhanced by the University of Rochester's state of the art Functional Genomics Center, and other recent upgrades in the Core Facilities of the Medical Center.

Active Research Laboratories

Butler Lab Regulation of mRNA Expression in the Nucleus of Eukaryotic Cells

Dziejman LabType Three Secretion System Mediated Pathogenesis of V. cholerae

Gill LabMicrobial Pathogens and the Impact of Human Microbial Flora on Human Health and Disease

HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS remains a major cause of death both in the U.S. and internationally. Faculty research on HIV/AIDS includes studies on: viral transmission and pathogenesis, including HIV-associated neurologic disease; development of novel therapeutic and preventive approaches – including new drugs and vaccines; and studies on the opportunistic pathogens that are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in persons with HIV/AIDS. The University of Rochester Center for AIDS Research provides a central hub for campus research on the virus.

Immune Regulation & Immunologic Mechanisms

Research into immunological mechanisms includes studies in diverse research areas in immunology, including: antigen presentation and processing; B cell subsets and regulation of B cell responses; T cell activation and differentiation; T cell memory and homing; immune responses to pathogenic organisms; comparative immunology using the frog Xenopus as a model system; mechanisms of autoimmunity; and the identification and analysis of gene expression signatures associated with immune responses to infection and immunization. These varied research programs seek to dissect key regulatory events that control protective and pathogenic immune responses.

Thakar LabDelineation the effects of age, immunogenicity of the antigens, host genotype and host’s immune history using using bioinformatics, systems biology and dynamic modeling tools.

Molecular Basis of Microbial Pathogenesis

An important weapon in the battle of infectious diseases is a basic understanding of the mechanisms of pathogenesis of infectious agents and the interaction of the pathogen with the host. A major research goal of the faculty is therefore to examine the mechanisms by which pathogenic microorganisms cause disease, using an interdisciplinary approach that involves scientists trained in microbiology, virology, molecular biology, and host defense.

Active Research Laboratories

Butler Lab Regulation of mRNA Expression in the Nucleus of Eukaryotic Cells

Opportunistic Pathogens

Opportunistic pathogens are microorganisms that usually do not cause disease in healthy hosts. However, they are often the source of opportunistic infections in hosts who are immunocompromised or when they bypass host defenses as a result of tissue damage caused by cuts, burns or surgery. Faculty research is focused on bacterial and fungal opportunistic pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumanii, Enterococcus faecalis, Pneumocystis carinii, Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans. Investigators use biochemical, genetic and genomic approaches to study mechanisms of pathogenesis and interactions with the host.

Active Research Laboratories

Gill LabMicrobial Pathogens and the Impact of Human Microbial Flora on Human Health and Disease

Haidaris Lab Infections in the immunocompromised host, mechanisms of pathogenesis, host-microbe interactions and approaches to therapy

Krysan Lab Antifungal Identification and Development

Respiratory Pathogens

Interactions of respiratory pathogens with the host respiratory environment can lead to severe life-threatening infections or chronic debilitating infections that persist for years. Severe infections are often the result of synergistic interactions between bacterial and viral pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Chronic lung infections such as Cystic Fibrosis are often polymicrobial infections of multiple bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Hemophilus influenzae and Staphylococcus aureus. Multiple faculty study RSV, influenza virus, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Pneumocystis carinii. Investigators are exploring mechanisms of virulence as well as development of vaccines.

Thakar LabDelineation the effects of age, immunogenicity of the antigens, host genotype and host’s immune history using using bioinformatics, systems biology and dynamic modeling tools.

Vaccine Biology

Vaccines represent perhaps the most cost-effective approach to improving human health and well-being, saving tens of millions of lives each year. Moreover, the UR has an impressive track record of contributing to the development of important human vaccines, including the Hemophilus influenza b (Hib) vaccine and the recently developed Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Research focuses on basic mechanisms involved in the generation of pathogen-specific immune responses as well as translationally-oriented studies that involve the derivation and testing of novel vaccines and/or vaccine delivery systems.